Elisabetta Ferrero

My experience in the laboratory of Tumor Immunology (HSR, head prof C. Rugarli) and in the laboratory of professor Fritz Bach (University of Minnesota) gave me a profound knowledge on immunological mechanisms/responses that control cancer. In these years, I have substantially contributed to the identification of the in vitro role of cytokines, particularly recombinant interleukin- 2 (rIL-2) in activating T lymphocytes (LAK cells) against cancer and have actively participated to the development of the european clinical trial “ Immunological testing of clinical immunotherapy protocols with recombinant cytokines infusion in neoplastic patients” led by Prof. Rugarli (Department of Internal Medicine, HSR). The latter contributed to establish the efficacy of rIL-2 versus rIL-2 plus lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) (Ferrero E et al Haematologica 1989; Fortis C et al. Cancer Immunol Immunother 1990). Later, I have accumulated recognized expertise in endothelium physiopathology and its role in inflammation and cancer, establishing models to assess endothelial damage induced by pro-inflammatory effectors, mainly TNF-α, particularly endothelial permeability in vitro and vascular damage in murine models (Ferrero E. Methods Mol Med. 2004; Corti A, Ferrero E. Curr.Med Chem.2012).